Spring Break Part One...Brussels and Holland

So I have a little bit while I wait for my mom to get on skype, so I figured I might as well start blogging from my spring break!

Friday, Alex, Josiah, Brandon and I left early for a train to Brussels, the capital of the EU. They speak a combination of French and Dutch there so it was pretty easy to get around. The first day, we walked around a bit, grabbed a kebab (the European version of a Gyro) and saw some of the major sights. The "absolute musts" were to see the "Manneken Pis" which is pretty much a statue of a kid peeing, get a waffle, and eat some french fries. The "Manneken Pis" had been hyped up, talked about, and mentioned at least 5 times of things to do in Brussels...but what a let down! it's only about a foot tall, and there were so many people taking pictures that I didn't even get a good photo. Brussels in general however was a lot of fun, and probably one of my more favorite cities. People are just so nice there!"We met some friends at the super nice hostel we were staying at and joined them for a night out. I tasted one of the boy's world famous Trappist Beers and ...ew. it was gross. and Even though Belle and I were "missing out" we were perfectly content with our Cocalight.
The next day we were up bright and early to walk around for abit more...we walked for a few miles to find the parliment building--so big! and goofed off a bit before getting on our next train.

We had bought tickets to Turnhout, Belgium--an 1 hour trip-- and were going to meet Wim at the trainstation and he was going to drive us over the border and to his house. However, we get to the train station and are looking for our platform but couldn't find it! Luckily we had gotten there rather early (thanks to "train trelawny"--a not so cute nick name the boys have given me because of my freak out tendancys when we travel) and when I asked the information we were told that this train doesn't run on saturdays. Whoops! he told us to get on the train to Anvers (antwerp) and change trains there and go Tournhout. But the train for Anvers was leaving in two minutes. So after a full scramble to the platform, we were on the train when I started second guessing my french skills and whether I had understood him correctly. Fortunatly I had, and we changed trains in Anvers for Turnhout where we were met by Wim and his (very cute) brother.

After a 30 min drive into Holland we arrived at Wim's parents house where there was a huge meal and his parents welcoming us. It was so nice to play football in a backyard, sit around and watch some TV, and talk with his family! It made me feel just like home! After several hours and a several course meal, we met up with some of Wims highschool friends to hang out. Everyone in Holland speaks English because unlike Germany or France, they don't dub their TV shows or Movies, they just add subtitles. Since a majority of their programs are Americain, you can imagine how they would be so fluent. We went to bed, and were woken up by Wim's mom calling us for breakfast.

Fresh fruit, eggs from the chicken coup in the backyard, jam, bread, and cheese. yummm oh! this chicken coup thing was incredible..They live in what looks like an american subberb with what we call a normal backyard but tucked in the back are 6 egg laying chickens! so funny! After breakfast we got on the train to Amsterdam where Wim's brother and 2 roommates live for school. They live in a super nice apartment big enough to hold all of us, and were so sweet and such good hosts! We did the tourist thing for a bit, seeing some museums and seeing the major sights. We took a free tour that taught us a lot about the history. We went back to Ruud's apt, ate some dinner, and hung out for a bit. The next day we slept in, walked around some more, played some board games, and had an early night.

I absolutely loved getting the real side of amsterdam and when the locals do. It's so funny how much they avoid the tourists and how easy it actually is to do so. And they are just SO nice! When Wim visits the states this summer, I'm going to have to take as good care of him as he showed me! I left Holland about 12:30 in the afternoon to meet up with some friends from St. Marys (sister to Notre Dame...Cathy have you heard of it?) back in Rennes, France. But that is going to have to wait until the next post, because even though my mom never showed up on skype, I have laundry to do before I go to switzerland to meet Liz tomorrow!

gros bisous a tous! xox

Quick hello

Just a quick update...I'm in Eersel, Holland with Wim's family...his mom made us this HUGE home cooked meal..it's so nice to be in a small town and be staying in a house...but it makes me miss home! Brussels was awesome..but you're going to have to wait a bit to hear about it :) We're off to amsterdam tomorrow morning to stay with wim's brother for a few days.

hope all is well with everyone....

Barcelona

Sorry it has taken me so long to get this post up...but after we get back from our trips I have to tell everyone in Dijon how my weekend was and then by that time i am sick of telling the story over and over again :)

BUT...this past weekend, the boys and I spent a few days in Barcelona. It was really cool to get out of the country..but a rather big hassle. We left at 8h30 in the morning from Dijon and arrived in Barcelona about 10 pm aafter a lonnnng train ride with lots of transfers. The police got on our train for a control ( when they come around and check our passports) Normally when traveling within the European union they won't check passports...I am very lucky I thought I would bring mine just in case! We were all separated on the train, and the guy next to me was giving the police trouble and was hitting on me the whole ride down...going as far to wake me up because he was 'lonely and needed to talk to someone' he was almost kicked off the train for giving the french police trouble and caused us to have to stop AGAIN across the border so that the Spanish police could check his luggage and frisk him....like I said...a very pleasant ride down.

We didn't really do all that much in Spain...we walked around and saw a bunch of the Gaudi architecture..the coolest thing we saw was the sagrada familia...Guadi was so extravagant that he started the church in 1909 and it still isn't finished. not even close! (see photo!)...and went to the museum of contemporary art (such a let down!) but we did a LOT of walking around and seeing things. it rained for most of the trip (except the last day) so that was kind of icky too. Lots of picnics in the parks (there are sooo many in Barcelona)

oh! On Sunday we did a Spanish cooking class where we learned how to make sangria, tapas, and paella..we met some other Americans and also some dutch. yayy new friends

I think that's about it..the train ride back was overnight and this time much easier..only one transfer.

Spring break starts on Thursday..looks like I'll be in Holland, Belgium, France Switzerland and maybe Spain again in Madrid..we will see!


xoxo

Les Cheateax de la Loire

So Belle and I packed up and headed over to the Loire Valley this weekend on a CEIF excursion to see all of the Chateaux. We visited 5 different Chateaus..some better than others :) It was so neat because the history was so intense! its so weird to know that exactly where I was standing years and year ago Kings and Queens of France were going about their daily business.

The prettiest one that we saw was Chambord. It was just like the castles you see in disney movies. We were allowed to go up on the terrices..what amazing views!

2 of the castles had amazing Gardens (with labryinths!) and although it's still rather chilly and grey..the flowers were just starting to bloom and the gardens were still very impressive.

The hotel we stayed in was incredible! It was so refreshing to take a real shower and actually feel clean after it. oh! and there was a pool too so we were able to swim :)

The last chateau was Chenonceau (one of the most famous chateaus in the world)..It's also known as le Chateau des Dames (castle of the ladies) because of it's sweet history with Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers, and Henry II. And who did I run into? Liz! She was doing a tour there as well with her friend Amanda (from the states) I only said goodbye to her a week ago and I got to see her again so soon!

This week is going to be long...I'm trying to finalize my spring break plans (so far we're going to Berlin, Holland, Brussels, Zurich, and Venice) but I head off to Barcelona with the boys for the long Easter weekend....I've never been to spain before!

grand bisous! xox

Trel, Belle, and Liz again!

After a very tough week of spring break planning, goodbyes (Beth had to return to the US wednesday), and lots of homework, I was glad to be picking up Liz off the train in Dijon!

She came in on Friday...and that night we headed out to the cinema and saw Harvey Milk in English with french subtitles.

Saturday we headed into down town Dijon to the Marche (the covered market), bought some fresh raspberries, and followed the Chouettes (markers in the form of Owls that are on the ground that take you on a course all around the city and show you the major points. Later that afternoon, we met up with the boys and headed to Carrfour (the french walmart) and got food for dinner saturday and breakfast and dinner on sunday. We came back, made some tacos (as mexican as we could get them at least) and then went to a cute little cafe all together.

Our dorm has this rediculous rule that we can't have anyone stay with us for the weekend (no visitors after 10pm) so we ended up sneaking her through someone's window on the first floor. It was hilarious.

sunday we woke up late, made crepes with the boys, and then all 5 of us headed to Lac Kir, which is a cute little lake/park area just a 30 min bus ride away. We walked around in the fresh(cold) air and sat around for abit before returning back to make a big spaghetti dinner. Sunday night, liz and I watched some episodes of friends and rearraged my room--it looks so much better!

She left me this morning ...which was sad :(..but I get to see her in a little over a month when we go to Berlin.

It was so nice having her with me this weekend...a good distraction since I'm kinda getting the 1/2 way through blues...as well as the unfortunate sudden departure of Beth. On the bright side, I get to go see all of the beautiful Chateaux this weekend!

until later..ciao

PS..sorry there aren't more pictures..but both of us forgot to charge our cameras!

Provence...roman ruins and more!

this weekend i went on a guided CIEF tour to Provence (the south of France) that is heavily influenced by the Romans...well..i guess they lived there and France took it over...or something. all the explanations were in french...give me a break!

But I got to see some reallllly old roman theatres and arenas and ruins. It was sweet. We also got to spend a few ours and the mediterannian..it was windy so there was so sun bathing, but walking up and down the boardwalk was beautiful.

I think my favorite part was on the last day seeing the Pont-de-Gard..the most famous roman aquaduct. It was HUGE and beautiful. and we got to hike around it for a few hours..it reminded me of Northern Michigan.




After 17.5 hours on a bus in one weekend, it was nice to return home--but it was so cool to see all of these historical sights...the history on the land just blows my mind! I think thats what I like about europe the most.. all of the history.


Liz is coming to vist me this weekend...it will be fun :) except that it is supposed to rain all weekend :( we'll see though!



grand bisous!

Finally something worth blogging about!

This weekend I was able to hop a train down to Clermont-Ferrand...home of THE Liz Mclane! It was so nice to feel so at home with her.

I got in friday night and trekked it to her dorm (there are TONS of hills and such there) and then we just hung out and talked all night long. We got up early the next day and wandered around her city seeing le Cathedral and doing some serious window shopping. Later in the afternoon we joined some of her very french friends in a "little hike"

not.

It was NOT the little hike pierre had described at all, but a trek across mountains! The weather was beautiful... warm with a cooling breeze.., but it was definitly a difficult hike not meant for tennis shoes and jeans. We started at the Cathedral (the black thing in the center of one of those photos) and ended 1/2 up the Puy-de-Dome (the mountain with the snow)

It was fun though...we were able to get out in nature and take some amazing pictures. About 6 hours later we made it back and were so exhausted we fell alseep halfway through watching Beauty and the Beast! (we were inspired to watch it from the views and photos of the French countryside hehe)

Sunday we hung out for a bit and I headed back to Dijon where I was greeting by dinner from my friend and then locked myself in my room to study for my midterm this morning. (yeah...it was hard.)

This week is going to be long I have a feeling..but it's sunny for the third day in a row! and hopefully it won't rain..doubtfull though. I am wearing flip flops though!! (but also a coat, scarf and mittens...I just really want to believe its spring.

Ok...time to go learn about cubisim...whooo

grand bisous xoxo